Hahnville ‘family’ enjoying rollercoaster ride

Hahnville quarterback Easton Melancon breaks from a Destrehan defender for some yardage at Wildcat Stadium in Destrehan on Friday, November 2, 2012. (Peter Forest, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

Lou Valdin

The Hahnville Tigers touch four signs before they leave their locker room for a home game.

The black “never, never quit” sign to the right of the door has been particularly poignant..

“A lot of people on this team could have easily quit,” said Hahnville quarterback Easton Melancon. “We just kept saying we’ve worked too hard in the spring and summer.”

After a 0-4 start, the playoffs seemed like a long shot, but the resurgent Tigers take a six-game winning streak into their Class 5A home playoff game against No. 7 seed Parkway (10-1).

Coach Lou Valdin said he’s used to the emotional roller coaster that is a football season, but he hasn’t exactly had a season like this. The No. 23 seed Tigers rallied in their last two games ― a 47-44 overtime win against Destrehan in their regular-season finale and a 25-21 win over No. 10 seed St. Paul’s.

“I’ve never had a situation where we’re 0-2, then 0-3 and then 0-4, but I’ve been in this business long enough to know it’s eventually going to come around,” said Valdin, who is in his 33rd season of coaching. “We tried to stay positive.”

The season really reminded Valdin what he already figured out three years ago. His friend Troy Giordanoch, who Valdin hired as East St. John’s girls basketball coach, died in a car crash May 8, 2009. At his funeral, Valdin realized how much of an impact he made with his players.

“He went to the state championship and won all these district titles, but I saw how many people he affected and how many people were better because they played for him,” Valdin said. “That’s when I said, ‘I don’t care what anybody thinks. I just hope the kids in the program are glad they played for me.’"

“Except for my wife and kids, (the players) are the most important thing in my life. Every Monday, you see 80 kids dressed and ready to practice football. It’s a new day, and nothing happened the week before. There’s no finger pointing.”

Valdin called the team’s 29-21 loss to McDonogh 35 in Week 5 the lowest point in the season. That’s when his laid-back coaching staff, including former Destrehan head coach Chris Stroud, and even principal Ken Oertling rallied around the longtime coach.

“I heard it more (negativity from fans) this season, but I don’t worry about that,” Valdin said. “I worry about what the principal thinks. That’s who I work for. The principal came to me and said, ‘Just be positive. Keep your head up. You have my support.'"

The Tigers (6-4) weathered the storm, and stormed through District 8-5A. Now, the Tigers are what many teams aren’t this time of year ― healthy. Valdin said they “almost” have the team they started the season with.

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Melancon, who has become a more confident quarterback, said the team is a tight-knit family. He said Valdin is a father-figure type.

“When we scored in overtime against Destrehan, every coach jumped five feet in the air,” Melancon said. “When you see coaches do that, it gives energy to us players. The teammates are giving me faith too. I know at the beginning of the season I wasn’t playing very good, but when your family believes in you, you can do anything.”

Senior safety Julius Medina has also enjoyed playing alongside identical twin brother Sergio, who continues to light up Hahnville’s backfield.

“I expected him to do good, but I didn’t expect him to do that great,” Julius Medina said. “Usually we don’t hug after games, but we hugged after that Destrehan game.

“We really believe as a team now.”

The Tigers, who are happily still playing in November, are enjoying the ride. Their next step is a home game.

“I really think they like each other,” Valdin said. “They’re friends, and they’re having fun. We certainly won’t be intimidated in this house.”